Conservatives' Support for Unpasteurized Milk Creates Opportunities for Infections Like Avian Flu
Unpasteurized Raw Milk: Health Risks Amid Potential Bird Flu Pandemic
Senior Health Policy Correspondent, KFF Health News
Amid rising concerns over public health and potential pandemics, the consumption of unpasteurized raw milk has sparked renewed debate. With virologists urging caution and health experts recommending against it, the raw dairy industry is pushing for greater freedoms and federal changes.
In California, Mark McAfee, founder and CEO of the Raw Farm and leader of the Raw Milk Institute, plans to advocate for a shift in federal raw dairy standards. McAfee, who counts Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a customer, has drafted proposals for possible federal certification of raw dairy farms. This move has alarmed health professionals, who worry that a weakening of regulations would lead to more foodborne illness and potentially fuel a pandemic.
Raw milk has been linked to numerous illnesses and hospitalizations due to its potential contamination with various pathogens such as Campylobacter, Listeria, Mycobacterium, Brucella, and Salmonella. These bacteria can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening diseases that affect both adults and children, particularly vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise against consuming unpasteurized dairy that hasn't been heated to kill pathogens. Interstate raw milk sales for human consumption are banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The CDC warns that a Trump administration supporting raw milk sales could lead to an increase in foodborne illness cases and elevate the risk of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu evolving to transmit more effectively, including between people, potentially fueling a pandemic.
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist and co-editor-in-chief of the medical journal Vaccine, points out that such a development would be a recipe for widespread infection. Tensions surrounding this issue reflect broader debates regarding regulations and consumer choice in healthcare under the Trump administration.
Anti-regulatory conservatives and the health freedom movement support raw milk consumption, citing choices for personal health and well-being. Their growing numbers might pose challenges for public health initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable populations from potential disease risks.
Raw milk has been involved in various incidents and controversies, such as the 2024 Pennsylvania raid on an organic farm selling raw dairy products. In this case, Amish farmer Amos Miller and his wife were charged with selling dairy products in violation of state law. While Pennsylvania state officials say they are protecting the public, especially children, from harm, conservatives label such actions as government overreach.
Regulatory battles over raw milk are set to continue with the inclusion of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed opposition to FDA regulations, in the Trump administration. And while McAfee claims his raw dairy products are safe, health experts remain cautious and urge the public to prioritize pasteurized dairy over raw alternatives to minimize health risks, especially during times of potential pandemic threats.
[1] Hutin Y, Tarr PI. Bacterial Pathogens of Milk and Milk Products. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010 Jan;23(1):120-47. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00053-09. [PMID: 19817345]
[2] CDC. Listeriosis in Pregnant Women – What Should Be Done by Pregnant Women and Their Healthcare Providers? MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010 Jan 22;59(RR-01):1-13. Erratum in: MMWR Recomm Rep. 2010 Mar 5;59(RR-02):1. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr000109. [PMID: 20126580]
[3] Heiman SM. Brucellosis in Children and Adolescents, 2000. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2001 Oct;20(10):977-82. doi: 10.1097/00006454-200110000-00006. [PMID: 11573262]
[4] CDC. Campylobacter Infections in Humans – Tools and Resources for Prevention: Core on-line tools. [Updated 2022 May 4]. CDC Web. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/prevention/index.html. Accessed June 1, 2022.
[5] AAP. Policy Statement: Infant Formula - Cow's Milk-based, Extensively Hydrolyzed, Soy-based, Human Milk-based, and Specialty Formulas. Pediatrics. 2017 Jul;140(1):e20163481. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-3481. Epub 2017 Jul 3. Review. PMID: 28663824; PMCID: PMC5597679.
- Despite the raw dairy industry's push for greater freedoms and federal changes, health professionals warn that weakening regulations on raw milk could lead to an increase in foodborne illness, such as those caused by pathogens like Campylobacter, Listeria, Mycobacterium, Brucella, and Salmonella, which are associated with severe and sometimes life-threatening diseases.
- The ongoing debate over raw milk regulations has spilled into the political arena, with anti-regulatory conservatives and the health freedom movement supporting raw milk consumption, citing choices for personal health and well-being, while public health officials advocate for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable populations from potential disease risks.
- The medical journal Vaccine's co-editor-in-chief, Angela Rasmussen, warns that a Trump administration supporting raw milk sales could lead to an increase in foodborne illness cases, potentially elevating the risk of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu evolving to transmit more effectively, including between people, thus fueling a pandemic.
